Tuvalu to host leaders' event ahead of Cop31 summit

Tuvalu, a small Pacific nation significantly impacted by the climate crisis, will host a special meeting of world leaders before the upcoming Cop31 summit. Australia’s energy and emissions minister, Chris Bowen, will co-convene this event, with Turkey’s climate minister, Murat Kurum, expressing his "complete faith" in Bowen to lead the negotiations. Kurum, who is the president-designate for the November summit, announced plans for the pre-summit meeting to take place in Fiji in October, following a protracted dispute over hosting rights.

The main summit is scheduled for November 11-12 in Antalya, Turkey, where leaders will negotiate new targets for reducing carbon emissions. Kurum emphasized the shared purpose between Bowen and Turkey’s administration, stating, "To advance the fight against climate change, help boost climate resilience and accelerate the clean energy transition, we will bring together our diplomatic, geopolitical and economic strengths." Bowen has been granted "exclusive authority" over negotiations, underscoring his pivotal role in the upcoming discussions.

In preparation for Cop31, Bowen recently met with Germany’s state secretary for environment and climate action, Jochen Flasbarth, to address the global energy crisis exacerbated by conflicts in the Middle East. Flasbarth warned that the ongoing war in Iran and increased defense spending in Europe should not detract from efforts to reduce carbon emissions. He noted that this crisis might create new momentum for the summit, potentially leading to a more unified approach among countries previously hesitant to transition away from fossil fuels.

Darling Downs farmer Sally Higgins has been appointed as the summit’s youth climate champion, with discussions focusing on principles of "dialogue, consensus and action."